Japanese Festivals & Ceremonies | The Japan Guy

Japanese Festivals & Ceremonies

Matsuri Tsukuba 2011 Video Post

September 12, 2011
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TsukubaMatsuri2011

Here is a video of Tsukuba Matsuri 2011. I got more of a look at the festival during the day this time around. But the night show is always a pretty nice view. You can click the link in the related items section (beneath the post) to see last year’s Tsukuba Matsuri. But without further ado, here is a video look at Matsuri Tsukuba 2011: Thanks for watching! See you tomorrow. Donald Ash P.S.-A got a little bit more footage than I expected to, so I’ll make a second video that you can check out in the Japan Guy email newsletter. If you haven’t signed up already, on the home page you simply enter...

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The Tsukuba Matsuri Picture Post 2011

September 11, 2011
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This is closest I have ever gotten to this float. WOW!

Better late than never I always say. I did have a chance to go to this year’s Tsukuba Matsuri on August 29th, 2011. This year was pretty cool because I was able to get closer tho the Nebuta* floats than I ever have. I didn’t get very many night time shots, but the floats were the same as last year’s Tsukuba Matsuri. I even got to take a few pictures with some of the guys who were pushing my favorite floats. In the last Tsukuba Matsuri video that I made, I was able to get better night time shots, but this time around, my daytime shots were better. There was still the same great...

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What is Obon?

August 13, 2011
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What is Obon?

What is Obon? お盆は何ですか？ Vacation-lovers rejoice! Tis the time for one of Japan’s longest “breaks.” Well I guess I don’t really want to call Obon a break, but for many foreigners that’s exactly what it is. For Japanese natives, though, Obon has a slightly different meaning. Obon* is one of Japan’s most well-known holidays. It can translate to mean The Lantern Festival or The Festival of the Dead. Essentially, Obon is a day to honor those who have passed away. During Obon, it’s been quite common for me to talk to students who were on their way to visit family and to visit grave-sites of their loved ones. *The word “bon” (ぼん or 盆)...

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What is Tanabata?

July 7, 2011
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What is Tanabata?

I headed to work a bit early today and while walking to the train I felt a tap on my shoulder. It was my friend and fellow teacher, Marisa. It’s always good to see a familiar face, even if it’s during a “just a bit too early” morning commute. Whenever I bump into her, we always talk about how things are going, how teaching life is after-AEON (we worked there together), etc.. While we were talking today, Marisa made mention of today being Tanabata (たなばた or 七夕). I COMPLETELY FORGOT!! Thanks for the reminder, Marisa! Students and teachers brought up Tanabata several times throughout the day. It was so cool at lunch time when...

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My Two Favorite, Mysterious Japanese Masks, Hyottoko (ひょっとこ) and Okame (おかめ)

June 29, 2011
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My Two Favorite, Mysterious Japanese Masks, Hyottoko (ひょっとこ) and Okame (おかめ)

Is it me? Or does Japan makes some of the coolest masks ever? When I went to Asakusa a few weeks ago before checking out the Blue Man Group Tokyo show. I walked into one of the local stores and saw many different types of Daruma dolls (much more expensive than the tiny one I have). My favorite display in the store, though, was the mask display. hanging on the wall, were two wonderful interpretations of my two favorite Japanese masks. The one on the left is Hyottoko, ひょっとこ, probably the strangest-looking Japanese mask I’ve ever seen. I’m surprised nobody’s used this mask for any type of slasher movie. So, maybe it isn’t as...

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Today is May 5th, Kodomo No Hi (こどものひ/子供の日)

May 5, 2011
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Today is May 5th, Kodomo No Hi (こどものひ/子供の日)

Today is May 5th and it’s Kodomo no Hi, こどものひ/子供の日! Kodomo no hi, also known as Children’s Day, is a national holiday that’s tied into Golden Week (one of Japan’s big holidays**). Initially Kodomo no hi was termed tangonosekku, たんごのせっく / 端午の節句, or the Boys Day Celebration. If you’ve read some of the earlier posts, there is also a Girl’s Day Celebration/Festival of Dolls known Hina Matsuri, ひなまつり / 雛祭り, that about two months prior on March 3rd. I don’t know exactly when the name of today’s holiday changed from Boy’s Day to Children’s Day, but now it’s a day that’s meant to celebrate all children to wish them happiness, health, and good luck....

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